Search Through Hartford Grants for Nonprofits in Connecticut

Edwards Community Endowment Program (ECEP)

The Edwards Community Endowment Program (ECEP) is a matching-grants program designed to assist northwest Connecticut nonprofits with the establishment of endowment funds or to increase established endowments. The project is made possible through a grant from the Marion Wm. and Alice Edwards Fund.

The purpose of Project is to assist nonprofits in establishing an endowment or adding to an existing Foundation fund. Selected non profits receive a $1 match for every $4 raised with a maximum $20,000 match per organization. All funds generated through the project are placed in a permanent named fund.

Guidelines and Application

ECEP applications for the program are accepted on a rolling basis. Organizations are selected for participation through a competitive application process. Each participating organization must raise a minimum of $16,000 in endowment gifts to be eligible for an initial match of $4,000. Organizations unable to reach the $16,000 minimum goal during the allotted time do not receive matching funds; however, monies raised will be placed into a temporary fund at the Foundation until the organization reaches a decision as to how and by whom the fund will be managed.

Cash and marketable securities can be counted toward the endowment project match. Funds from existing reserves, operational pledges, or any funds re-directed by a participating organization’s Board of Directors that are specifically earmarked for current operational uses do not qualify. Money that has been earmarked by the donor for an endowment or established as an organizational endowment may be considered.

Deferred gifts, such as charitable remainder trusts and bequests, are excellent ways to grow endowment funds, but they may not be counted as pledges for the purpose of the Edwards Community Endowment Project.

Funding Criteria

The primary criterion used in evaluating applications is how the organization plans to supplement the endowment fund once it has been established. Special consideration is given to organizations that:

• Incorporate endowment-building strategies in overall development efforts 
• Demonstrate involvement and leadership of Board members in endowment fundraising
• Provide marketing plans that incorporate endowment-building and planned giving
• Demonstrate organizational stability and track record in raising various types of funds.

The Hartford Foundation For Public Giving - Together for Good

As Greater Hartford’s community foundation, we are a public, grantmaking organization bringing together dedicated individuals, businesses and nonprofits to understand local challenges, share information and put resources behind solutions that can improve the quality of life for those both in our region and across the state of Connecticut.

We are fortunate to share a vision of Greater Hartford with many who are working to build a more equitable and resilient place to live, work and play. The barriers to success are longstanding, systemic and persistent. We are naming them and have an approach to address them by combining our financial resources, the talents of our team, and our wide-ranging community partnerships. Together, we will grow and share opportunity in a way that benefits everyone in the Hartford region.

Investing In Our Community

We partner with nonprofits to build a stronger and more equitable Greater Hartford. Our grantmaking addresses systemic issues and responds to evolving needs in our community.

The Hartford Foundation works with nonprofit organizations to bring about lasting change in our community. Our grantmaking both addresses major issues affecting our community and responds to evolving community needs.

Regular Grants

An organization may be eligible to apply for one regular grant every three years, selecting its highest priority from one of the following grant types: 

Program/Project

Grants that support new programs, demonstration projects, studies, or surveys that do not commit the Foundation to recurring costs. These grants provide funding for one to three years and may also be used to enhance, expand or strengthen existing programs, services and organizational capacity.

Continuation

Additional funding provided at the end of a grant to help an organization reach project outcomes that were not met within the original schedule. Continuation grants can last up to two years and are only for projects that meet certain criteria, such as those that address high-priority community issues.

Capital Grants

Grants supporting capital improvements, such as building purchase, construction or renovation, or capital equipment purchase. The Foundation generally supports a capital or building campaign once.

General Operating Support

Grants that support an organization’s ongoing activities and stability, as outlined in its strategic plan. Funding can be used at the organization’s discretion. These grants are an option for organizations with budgets over $200,000. Eligibility is highly competitive, and organizations must be in sound financial condition.

• General Operating Support Grants: FAQs
• General Operating Support Grant Application Process

Transitional Operating Support Grants

In special circumstances, these grants help well-run nonprofits that have experienced unexpected income gaps to continue important programs or close down operations.

Priority is given to programs that provide: 

• Critical basic human needs, such as food and shelter, to indigent and working poor. 
• Services other than basic human needs, such as health, education, literacy and legal services, to vulnerable and disadvantaged populations.
• Services that make a major impact on quality of life and/or the region’s economy, such as arts and culture, workforce development and economic development.

Our Commitment

To create a vibrant region, we must take steps to dismantle structural racism. In Greater Hartford and across the country, Black and Latine communities as well as other communities of color face persistent disparities, which create barriers to health, wellbeing and wealth building. These disparities didn't happen by accident. They are the result of decades of systemic factors and disinvestment in our communities, many of which are still woven into the fabric of our institutions.To achieve our mission and create a truly vibrant region, we must take significant steps to dismantle structural racism and advance equity in social and economic mobility in Greater Hartford's Black and Latine communities.  While dismantling structural racism requires a long-term commitment, the time to act is now. We know it won't be easy, but working together, we can achieve greater equity in our region.

Small Nonprofits Grant

The Foundation’s Nonprofit Support Program offers general operating support grants designed for small or all volunteer organizations with annual revenues under $300,000 that have an established record of service to their communities and that meet the eligibility criteria of the Foundation.

Small, emergent, and/or all-volunteer nonprofit organizations often express unique needs as they develop their infrastructure or programs. The Nonprofit Suppot Program has intentionally developed offerings to small nonprofits in Greater Hartford with annual revenues under $300,000 that consider where an organization is in their development – supports and offerings are contextual, flexible, and allows leaders and teams to learn and growin their roles.

This operating support opportunity offers up to $15,000 over a two-year period to support an organization’s stability and institutional strengthening, as outlined in its organizational strategic plans and goals. Organizations must have an established record of service to their communities and meet eligibility criteria of the Foundation. While funding can be used at the organization’s discretion, it is highly encouraged that organizations strategically allocate funding towards operational/organizational strengthening needs.

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has established a $100,000 Greater Together Community Fund for the Town of Newington.

The purpose of the Greater Together Community Funds program is to:

• Support the community in taking ownership around the needs in their towns
• Encourage broad and inclusive civic engagement and
• Anchor the Hartford Foundation in each town.

Newington GTCF Committee Members

The role of the GTCF Committee is to design and lead an inclusive process to identify the needs in your community, and design a grantmaking process aimed to ensure that the Greater Together Community Funds can have the greatest impact for the benefit of town residents.

Excellence in the Arts Grant

Why the Arts?

From its Gilded Age to present day, Hartford’s arts community has created a quality of life that resonates throughout the Capitol Region. Ned and Sunny Roberts recognized how important the arts are to maintaining the vitality of their beloved city, and 60 years ago created a foundation that would ensure Hartford’s rich cultural heritage thrived for generations.

Today the foundation is unique in its commitment to support the arts for arts’ sake, and to achieve this mission, the organization seeks to fund exceptional aesthetic experiences that reflect, celebrate and elevate the human spirit.

Funding

For particularly large requests ($25,000 or more), it is recommended that the initial contact be made well in advance of the application. 

Project Lead The Way (PLTW)

Our Mission: Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World

Our Philosophy for Education: We believe all students – beginning at a young age – need access to real-world, applied learning experiences that empower them to gain the skills they need to thrive in college, career, and beyond.

We believe teachers play an immeasurable role in empowering students, and our programs provide teachers with the support and resources they need to devote more time to inspiring students.

Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 12,000 engineers, construction and craft professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities. Founded in 1898 and working from more than 75 offices globally, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned.

PLTW Engineering - New Program

Getting students excited about STEM is essential to building a brighter future for all of us. Showing students how STEM topics fit into the real world and real careers can give them the tools to embrace this vital message. Burns & McDonnell and its Foundation have partnered with PLTW to increase access and participation to PLTW programs for students located in Burns & McDonnell communities. PLTW programs empower students to develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges.

Through this partnership, Burns and McDonnell is supporting PLTW grants to schools interested in starting and expanding PLTW programs beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year.

Program Requirements

Grantee must offer at least one PLTW Engineering course in the 2026-2027 academic year and must offer one additional course in the 2027-2028 academic year (two different courses in two years). Grantee may implement any PLTW Engineering courses of their choosing. Grantee must complete two years of grant reporting.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW)

Our Mission: Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World

Our Philosophy for Education: We believe all students – beginning at a young age – need access to real-world, applied learning experiences that empower them to gain the skills they need to thrive in college, career, and beyond.

We believe teachers play an immeasurable role in empowering students, and our programs provide teachers with the support and resources they need to devote more time to inspiring students.

Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 12,000 engineers, construction and craft professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities. Founded in 1898 and working from more than 75 offices globally, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned.

PLTW Engineering - Program Expansion

Getting students excited about STEM is essential to building a brighter future for all of us. Showing students how STEM topics fit into the real world and real careers can give them the tools to embrace this vital message. Burns & McDonnell and its Foundation have partnered with PLTW to increase access and participation to PLTW programs for students located in Burns & McDonnell communities. PLTW programs empower students to develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges.

Through this partnership, Burns and McDonnell is supporting PLTW grants to schools interested in starting and expanding PLTW programs beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year.

Program Requirements

Grantee must use their grant funds to expand their existing PLTW Engineering program. Example expansion activities include but are not limited to adding an additional PLTW Engineering course not previously offered, and/or adding additional class periods of an existing PLTW Engineering courses previously offered, and/or training additional teachers in PLTW Engineering courses for the 2026-2027 academic year. Grantee must complete one year of grant reporting. 

Project Lead The Way (PLTW)

Our Mission: Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World

Our Philosophy for Education: We believe all students – beginning at a young age – need access to real-world, applied learning experiences that empower them to gain the skills they need to thrive in college, career, and beyond.

We believe teachers play an immeasurable role in empowering students, and our programs provide teachers with the support and resources they need to devote more time to inspiring students.

Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 12,000 engineers, construction and craft professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities. Founded in 1898 and working from more than 75 offices globally, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned.

PLTW Gateway - New Program

Getting students excited about STEM is essential to building a brighter future for all of us. Showing students how STEM topics fit into the real world and real careers can give them the tools to embrace this vital message. Burns & McDonnell and its Foundation have partnered with PLTW to increase access and participation to PLTW programs for students located in Burns & McDonnell communities. PLTW programs empower students to develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges.

Through this partnership, Burns and McDonnell is supporting PLTW grants to schools interested in starting and expanding PLTW programs beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year.

Program Requirements

Grantee must offer at least one PLTW Gateway unit in the 2026-2027 academic year and must offer one additional unit in the 2027-2028 academic year (two different units in two years). Grantee may implement any PLTW Gateway units of their choosing. Grantee must complete two years of grant reporting.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW)

Our Mission: Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World

Our Philosophy for Education: We believe all students – beginning at a young age – need access to real-world, applied learning experiences that empower them to gain the skills they need to thrive in college, career, and beyond.

We believe teachers play an immeasurable role in empowering students, and our programs provide teachers with the support and resources they need to devote more time to inspiring students.

Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 12,000 engineers, construction and craft professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities. Founded in 1898 and working from more than 75 offices globally, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned.

PLTW Gateway - Program Expansion

Getting students excited about STEM is essential to building a brighter future for all of us. Showing students how STEM topics fit into the real world and real careers can give them the tools to embrace this vital message. Burns & McDonnell and its Foundation have partnered with PLTW to increase access and participation to PLTW programs for students located in Burns & McDonnell communities. PLTW programs empower students to develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges.

Through this partnership, Burns and McDonnell is supporting PLTW grants to schools interested in starting and expanding PLTW programs beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year.

Program Requirements

Grantee must use their grant funds to expand their existing PLTW Gateway program. Example expansion activities include but are not limited to adding an additional PLTW Gateway unit not previously offered, and/or adding additional class periods of an existing PLTW Gateway unit previously offered, and/or training additional teachers in a PLTW Gateway unit for the 2026-2027 academic year. Grantee must complete one year of grant reporting.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW)

Our Mission: Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World

Our Philosophy for Education: We believe all students – beginning at a young age – need access to real-world, applied learning experiences that empower them to gain the skills they need to thrive in college, career, and beyond.

We believe teachers play an immeasurable role in empowering students, and our programs provide teachers with the support and resources they need to devote more time to inspiring students.

Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 12,000 engineers, construction and craft professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities. Founded in 1898 and working from more than 75 offices globally, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned.

PLTW Launch - New Program

Getting students excited about STEM is essential to building a brighter future for all of us. Showing students how STEM topics fit into the real world and real careers can give them the tools to embrace this vital message. Burns & McDonnell and its Foundation have partnered with PLTW to increase access and participation to PLTW programs for students located in Burns & McDonnell communities. PLTW programs empower students to develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges.

Through this partnership, Burns and McDonnell is supporting PLTW grants to schools interested in starting and expanding PLTW programs beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year.

Program Requirements

Grantee must offer at least one PLTW Launch module in the 2026-2027 academic year and must offer one additional module for the 2027-2027 academic year (two different modules in two years). Grantee may implement any PLTW Launch modules of their choosing. Grantee must complete two years of grant reporting.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW)

Our Mission: Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World

Our Philosophy for Education: We believe all students – beginning at a young age – need access to real-world, applied learning experiences that empower them to gain the skills they need to thrive in college, career, and beyond.

We believe teachers play an immeasurable role in empowering students, and our programs provide teachers with the support and resources they need to devote more time to inspiring students.

Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 12,000 engineers, construction and craft professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities. Founded in 1898 and working from more than 75 offices globally, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned.

PLTW Launch - Program Expansion

Getting students excited about STEM is essential to building a brighter future for all of us. Showing students how STEM topics fit into the real world and real careers can give them the tools to embrace this vital message. Burns & McDonnell and its Foundation have partnered with PLTW to increase access and participation to PLTW programs for students located in Burns & McDonnell communities. PLTW programs empower students to develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges.

Through this partnership, Burns and McDonnell is supporting PLTW grants to schools interested in starting and expanding PLTW programs beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year.

Program Requirements

Grantees must use these grant funds to expand their program. Example expansion activities include but are not limited to adding an additional PLTW Launch module not previously offered, and/or offering existing PLTW Launch modules to more students, and/or training additional teachers in PLTW Launch Classroom Teacher Training or PLTW Launch Lead Teacher Training for the 2026-2027 academic year. Grantee must complete one year of grant reporting. 

This competitive grant opportunity is designed to provide summer programming opportunities to Hartford children and people with disabilities in our  29-town region.

The Foundation’s goals in supporting summer programming are to:

• provide children in Hartford, as well as people of all ages with disabilities across the region, a place to go during the traditional workday in support of working families while school is out of session, and 
• provide Hartford youth with career exposure through counselor-in-training (CIT) programs.

Grants will be considered for programs that can contribute to one or both of the Foundation’s goals as outlined above. Applicants should demonstrate cultural humility. 

Grants will be awarded to programs that can contribute to the Foundation’s interest in providing children in Hartford and people with disabilities a safe place to go during their parents’ and caregivers’ traditional workday and to provide Hartford youth work-based learning through CIT programs. Applicants should demonstrate cultural competency in their programming, have a track record of implementing the program for at least one summer season, and provide transportation, where applicable.

Culturally Enriched Communities

Travelers supports organizations that build communities and enrich lives through arts and culture, and that use the arts to contribute directly to enhanced academic learning.

Arts Education

Travelers funds organizations that incorporate the use of the arts in learning and stimulate creativity, while supporting improved academic achievement in local public schools.

Arts & Diversity

Travelers funds a wide range of organizations in order to build multi-cultural understanding in our communities. Travelers also aims to strengthen organizations that develop and present cultural and artistic traditions and/or provide access to various forms of art to diverse audiences.

Enhancing Communities Through the Arts

Travelers provides a small number of operating grants and/or sponsorships for key arts organizations in our downtown neighborhoods of Hartford, Conn., and St. Paul, Minn., in order to contribute to the vitality of the region.

Mission

The Northwest CT Community Foundation, Inc. (NCCF) is the community foundation located in and serving Northwest Connecticut. NCCF enhances life for citizens in its 20-town service area by:

• Awarding grants to nonprofit organizations and scholarships to students

• Helping donors create lasting, local legacies

• Encouraging local philanthropy and volunteerism

• Building endowments for future generations

NCCF serves the following communities: Barkhamsted, Bethlehem, Canaan (Falls Village), Colebrook, Cornwall, Goshen, Hartland, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, New Hartford, Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury (Lakeville), Sharon, Torrington, Warren, Washington, and Winchester/Winsted.

Cycle Grants

Areas of Concentration

NCCF has five areas of concentration: 

• Arts & Culture
• Civic & Education
• Environment
• Health
• Social Services 

Funding

Grants are designated as:

• Small ($1,500 and under); or
• Traditional (over $1,500).

When considering how much to request in traditional applications, be aware that the Foundation’s average grant amount is $5,000. It is not uncommon for a grant award to be lower than the amount requested. The amount awarded may be greater for major capital expenditures, significant new programs with a solid plan for long-term support, bold expansion of existing programs, or large capacity building efforts. 

About The Fund

The Fund for Greater Hartford, a private, independent foundation, believes in the power of stakeholders working together to ensure children in our region are academically and socially proficient. The Fund provides thought leadership and financial support to nonprofit organizations and collaborations that apply best practices to their work and demonstrate measurable outcomes.

Specifically, The Fund for Greater Hartford believes that every child deserves a strong foundation in which to grow and develop. We know from research that children who reach age-appropriate developmental milestones enter kindergarten with the skills needed to learn and grow socially. We understand the importance of children reading on grade level through grade 3 and how this empowers a child to use reading to learn academically. We also understand that students in fourth grade through graduation need different kinds of support that allow them to develop their own sense of independence and self-esteem; two traits of success that will carry them through and beyond their high school years.

Grant funds are available to nonprofit organizations, collaboratives and partnerships that support The Fund’s vision and apply best practices, creative and cost-effective approaches, with a history of delivering measurable outcomes.

The Fund for Greater Hartford does not consider a grant proposal to constitute confidential information. We may discuss organizations or grant inquiries with other funders, individuals identified within the proposal, outside experts, and other appropriate people in the community. Information you consider to be confidential or proprietary should not be included in your proposal.

Grant recipients are expected to demonstrate in all aspects of their operations full compliance with legislation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, sexual preference, or disability. Further, it is expected that grant recipients will actively seek diversity in their governance and program staff.

Funding

Grant requests cannot exceed $25,000.

Our Mission

Putting philanthropy into action to create lasting solutions that result in vibrant communities within the Greater Hartford region.

We are Greater Hartford's Community Foundation. 

We serve 29 towns, nearly 800,000 residents, hundreds of nonprofits, and a network of philanthropists with more than 1,500 funds. We bring together the people, knowledge, investments and passion to make Greater Hartford a more inclusive and equitable place to live, work and raise a family.

Bloomfield Greater Together Community Fund

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has established a Greater Together Community Fund for the Town of Bloomfield.

The purpose of the Greater Together Community Funds program is to:

• support the community in taking ownership around the needs in their towns
• encourage broad and inclusive civic engagement and
• anchor the Hartford Foundation in each town.

Our Mission

Putting philanthropy into action to create lasting solutions that result in vibrant communities within the Greater Hartford region.

Granby Greater Together Community Fund

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has established a $100,000 Greater Together Community Fund for the Town of Granby.

The purpose of the Greater Together Community Funds (GTCF) is to support the community in taking ownership around the needs in their towns, encourage broad and inclusive civic engagement and anchor the Hartford Foundation in each town.

This fund is anchored in the conviction that residents understand the challenges they face in their communities, but are often constrained by a lack of resources. This lack of resources included the need for more opportunities to meet with one another, share concerns and work together with all members of the community to develop solutions.  We welcome proposals that put forward a case for how they will benefit residents of Granby around important needs and opportunities.

Funding

The minimum request for any proposal is $250 and the maximum request shall not exceed $25,000.

Our Mission

Putting philanthropy into action to create lasting solutions that result in vibrant communities within the Greater Hartford region.

Glastonbury Greater Together Community Fund

In celebration of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving's Centennial in 2025 and the 5th anniversary of the Greater Together Community Fund, we are pleased to announce an expanded grantmaking capacity this year. We invite applications for funding that will directly benefit Glastonbury, CT.

We seek proposals for projects aimed at improving or enhancing the quality of life in Glastonbury or addressing critical community needs. This funding supports initiatives that may include:

• Improving access to existing programs (especially for underserved populations)
• Innovative new initiatives or enhancements to current programs
• Efforts to meet basic human needs (e.g., food, shelter), healthcare, human services, mental health services, senior services, education, and recreation/land conservation

We encourage partnerships and collaborative efforts for greater community impact. All proposed projects must benefit the residents of Glastonbury, CT.

Impact Grants

We are introducing a new Impact Award of up to $15,000 in honor of the Hartford Foundation’s Centennial and the 5th anniversary of the Greater Together Community Fund.  Grant award amounts will vary based on the scope and focus of the proposal.

The Impact Grant is designed to support programs that can create significant, measurable change in the community. These grants are available for both new and existing initiatives, providing the necessary resources to scale or improve efforts addressing critical community needs. The goal is to drive long-term, positive transformation in Glastonbury.

Applications for Impact Grants must demonstrate clear potential for impact on town residents and include a plan for sustainability.

West Hartford Greater Together Community Fund Grant

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has established a $100,000 Greater Together Community Fund for the Town of West Hartford.

The purpose of the Greater Together Community Funds program is to:

• Support the community in taking ownership around the needs in their towns
• Encourage broad and inclusive civic engagement and
• Anchor the Hartford Foundation in each town.

Your town has formed an advisory committee to manage a participatory process to identify your town's needs and allocate community funds.

 Applications for grants in the amount of $2500, $5000, or $10,000 will be accepted from non-profit organizations proposing programs or projects that will benefit West Hartford residents. 

The WGTCF Advisory Committee will accept and evaluate applications from any eligible organization or project/program that benefits West Hartford residents. 

Interested applicants are invited, but not required, to attend a virtual information session to learn more about the West Hartford Greater Together Community Fund and the grant making process. 

Nearly 100 years ago, two bankers, Maynard T. Hazen and Clark T. Durant, had a vision: establish a community-wide charitable endowment that would accept “gifts, devises, and bequests” to serve as a trustworthy, steadfast and responsive charitable resource to the community, forever. Since then, that single bequest of $1,000 has grown into charitable assets totaling more than $1.2 billion (as of December 2024).

Today, the Hartford Foundation For Public Giving is:

• A grant maker that has awarded more than $1 billion in grants (as of December 2024).
• A community leader that serves 800,000 residents and hundreds of nonprofits in 29 towns.
• Most importantly, an institution that remains committed to our original cause of improving the well-being and quality of life for residents throughout the region.

We are a public, grantmaking organization bringing together dedicated individuals, businesses and nonprofits to understand local challenges, share information and put resources behind solutions that can improve the quality of life for those both in our region and across the state of Connecticut. As our Mission, we are putting philanthropy into action to create lasting solutions that result in vibrant communities within the Greater Hartford region.

Enfield Greater Together Community Fund

In 2019, the Hartford Foundation established the Greater Together Community Funds in each of the 29 towns it serves, including Enfield, with an initial investment of $100,000. In January, as part of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving’s Centennial year in 2025 and the Fifth anniversary of the Greater Together Community Fund program, the Foundation unveiled a new $100,000 investment in each of its 29 town-specific Community Funds. This includes $50,000 immediately available for grantmaking and $50,000 allocated to endowment.

The Grant

The Enfield Greater Together Community Fund Advisory Committee has announced an open call for applications. The goal is to award grants that will support programs addressing the needs of the Enfield Greater Together Community. The purpose of Enfield’s Community Fund is to support residents in taking ownership around the needs in their towns and encourage broad and inclusive civic engagement.

Objectives of the fund:

• Improve the participation of existing programs
• Develop enhancements to existing programs
• Encourage the creation of innovative new programs

The maximum grant award is $5,000 and the minimum is $250. Grant Award Announcements will be made in September, 2025. A final report will be required upon completion of the project.

Reducing Barriers to Health Equity

The Cigna Group Health Equity Impact Fund supports nonprofits serving local community members to address root causes of health inequities.

Our Approach

The goal of the Cigna Group Health Equity Impact Fund is to support, convene, and collaborate with nonprofit organizations serving local community members. This Fund operates on a hyper-local level in select U.S. cities and has committed $3 million each year to support local nonprofits.

Our first grantee cohort is advancing innovative projects in Hartford, CT, and Houston, TX.

For the second cohort, we are seeking to support nonprofits that are serving community members in Hartford, CT, and St. Louis, MO.

Hartford, Connecticut

In the capital city of the state where our company is headquartered, we will continue to advance health equity and address disparities in our own backyard. Hartford struggles with high poverty rates and lower life expectancy compared to other Connecticut cities. Additionally, Hartford residents are disproportionately likely to forgo health care due to lack of access to reliable transportation, and lack of access to primary care and/or lack of trust in care.3,4

Fund goals:

• Expand the availability of providers and related community-based resources for adults that reflect culturally appropriate care models.
• Increase access to transportation for adults to attend health visits and healthy physical activities.

St. Louis, Missouri

Residents of St. Louis have disproportionately higher rates of death from substance use disorders and are more likely to visit the emergency room for a mental health challenge than other counties in Missouri.5,6,7

Fund goals:

• Increase access to treatment and support for substance use disorders in adults.
• Increase access to mental health services for adults.

Rocky Hill Greater Together Community Fund

The Rocky Hill Greater Together Community Fund, which is an arm of The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, is pleased to announce a competitive grant opportunity for one or more nonprofits proposing projects to benefit the residents of Rocky Hill.

Project proposals must demonstrate the opportunity for all town residents to benefit without discrimination based on race, religion, or any other protected class. Projects do not necessarily need to benefit every town resident if the proposal can demonstrate why it addresses a need for a portion of the town’s population and does not discriminate among residents who share that need.

Travelers Foundation

Travelers believes that strong communities are sustained by educational and economic opportunities —and we are dedicated to assisting our communities in generating those opportunities. With a focus on equity and inclusion, we target our giving and volunteerism to help improve academic and career success, develop thriving neighborhoods and create culturally enriched communities.

Travelers contributes to organizations that prepare historically underrepresented students to lead tomorrow’s workforce, develop vibrant communities through small business support and neighborhood revitalization, and enhance lives and learning through arts & culture.

Travelers accepts grant applications exclusively for Hartford, Connecticut and St. Paul, Minnesota, primarily for project, program and operating support and for limited capital opportunities.

Thriving Neighborhoods

Travelers supports organizations that help create and maintain safety, stability and vitality in low- and mixed-income communities.

What Our Funding Supports:

• Accessible, Safe Housing– Travelers supports organizations and programs that provide permanent housing and supportive services to create safe, stable neighborhoods.
• Successful Small Businesses – Travelers funds organizations that develop economic vitality and create and retain wealth by assisting the creation and growth of small businesses, with an emphasis on women-, minority- and veteran-owned businesses. Travelers also supports programs that prepare individuals for business ownership and support them on their journeys.
• Resilient Communities – Travelers supports organizations that show leadership in disaster preparation, response and recovery.

Community Organizing Grants

This competitive grant opportunity is for nonprofits or community groups conducting community organizing efforts led by people of color and/or people representing communities traditionally marginalized as they engage and activate residents locally for the purpose of more inclusive civic participation.

Successful proposals could support:

• community organizing efforts, broadly or around specific issue campaigns,
• increasing community organizing group or organizational capacity, and/or
• community organizing infrastructure to benefit the field in Greater Hartford.

The Foundation acknowledges that while residents frequently assemble to achieve shared community goals, community organizing as a practice has the additional goal of increasing the collective power and internal capacity of people of color and traditionally marginalized and/or underrepresented populations. This RFP will support organizations or community groups with a mission to increase power sharing between underserved communities and the institutions meant to serve them, for example, state or municipal governments. 

Funded requests could include but are not limited to efforts that increase racial/social justice issue awareness, increase civic education/issue awareness, increase community organizing organizational capacity (e.g., software, working with a consultant), increase resident leadership on racial/social justice issues, and/or increase community organizing network infrastructure to maximize effectiveness among multiple organizations. Examples of shared field infrastructure could include shared technology, meeting space or training providers/materials across groups in the Greater Hartford region. 

Funding

The scope of work considered could take place over the span of one year. Grant awards will range from $5,000 - $60,000.

Resident Engagement Grants

This competitive grant opportunity is for nonprofits or community groups engaged in or planning local civic participation efforts with the potential to increase civic trust (pg. 91-100), increase social issue awareness and promote allyship with marginalized communities. Resident engagement efforts might include activities such as: hosting community meetings, forums, conducting workshops, or retreats, informational outreach campaigns and volunteerism projects.

Efforts can focus on increasing racial/social justice issue awareness, increasing resident leadership on racial/social justice issues, increasing civic education/issue awareness. Projects can address issues such as housing, education, health care, the concerns of returning citizens, and issues affecting LGBTQIA+ persons among other things.

Funding

Scope of work considered could take place over the course of one year. This is to acknowledge the shifting nature of community work. Grant awards will range from $1,000 - $25,000. 

Nearly 100 years ago, two bankers, Maynard T. Hazen and Clark T. Durant, had a vision: establish a community-wide charitable endowment that would accept “gifts, devises, and bequests” to serve as a trustworthy, steadfast and responsive charitable resource to the community, forever. Since then, that single bequest of $1,000 has grown into charitable assets totaling more than $1.2 billion (as of December 2024). Today, the Hartford Foundation For Public Giving is: 

• A grant maker that awarded more than $1 billion in grants (as of December 2024).
• A community leader that serves 800,000 residents and hundreds of nonprofits in 29 towns.
• Most importantly, an institution that remains committed to our original cause of improving the well-being and quality of life for residents throughout the region.

As Greater Hartford’s community foundation, we are a public, grantmaking organization bringing together dedicated individuals, businesses and nonprofits to understand local challenges, share information and put resources behind solutions that can improve the quality of life for those both in our region and across the state of Connecticut. As our mission, we are putting philanthropy into action to create lasting solutions that result in vibrant communities within the Greater Hartford region.

WE ARE GREATER HARTFORD'S COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

• We serve 29 towns, nearly 800,000 residents, hundreds of nonprofits, and a network of philanthropists with more than 1,500 funds.
• We bring together the people, knowledge, investments and passion to make Greater Hartford a more inclusive and equitable place to live, work and raise a family.

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is dedicated to the Greater Hartford region, serving all 29 towns and we'll continue to work to improve the quality of life in Greater Hartford, for the next 100 years and beyond. 

Windsor Locks Greater Together Community Fund

In 2019, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving established the Greater Together Community Funds in each of the 29 towns it serves, including Windsor Locks, with an initial investment of $100,000. In 2021, the Foundation awarded an additional $50,000 to each of the community funds. In January, as part of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving’s Centennial year in 2025 and the Fifth anniversary of the Greater Together Community Fund program, the Foundation has recently unveiled a new $100,000 investment in each of its 29 town-specific Community Funds. This includes $50,000 immediately available for grantmaking and $50,000 allocated to endowment. 

The purpose of the Greater Together Community Fund is to: support the community in taking ownership around the needs in their towns, encourage broad and inclusive civic engagement and anchor the Hartford Foundation in each town.

The Windsor Locks Greater Together Community Fund (WLGTCF) provides grants to 501(c)3 organizations here in Windsor Locks. Our grantmaking is guided by our commitment to dismantling structural racism and advancing equity in social and economic mobility in Greater Hartford's Black and Latino communities. The most important thing we consider is whether an organization's mission or program aligns with these priorities. Grants will be given for a single, deliverable project that provides a benefit to the Windsor Locks community.

In addition to our strategic priorities, we also consider how programs or projects align with our five strategic outcome areas:

• Arts and Culture
• Basic Human Needs
• Civic and Resident Engagement
• Employment Opportunities
• Thriving Neighborhoods

While we do award grants for projects that fall outside of these outcome portfolios, proposals that align with this work will receive stronger consideration.

Our Mission

Putting philanthropy into action to create lasting solutions that result in vibrant communities within the Greater Hartford region.

We Are Greater Hartford's Community Foundation

We serve 29 towns, nearly 800,000 residents, hundreds of nonprofits, and a network of philanthropists with more than 1,500 funds. We bring together the people, knowledge, investments and passion to make Greater Hartford a more inclusive and equitable place to live, work and raise a family.

Purpose of the Fund

The Norma and Natale Sestero Fund seeks to support organizations that benefit people and institutions from the Town of Glastonbury in the areas of culture, health, education, social welfare and the environment (including town beautification and preservation of heritage).